I started out working for an engine reconditioning workshop as an apprentice Fitter Machinist. I built Holden & Chevy engines for competition purposes along with working on all of my own cars. I owned a XU1 Holden Torana, a VL Walkinshaw Commodore and a Holden Calais VL turbo during my 10 years as an apprentice. During this time, I had also obtained an Engine Reconditioner & Engineer trade certificate. Engines that I had built were being used in sprintcars, modified rods, HQ racing, Group-E racing, formula Ford, rally cars and many quick street cars and drag cars.

I was truely a Holden man to begin with. Even though I loved my “all muscle” Holdens, I had always liked the idea of a turbocharged engine. Turbochargers made it easy to gain power and torque while still keeping the car as a good daily driver. A mate let me take his MY94 WRX wagon for a spin one day (it was raining as well…) and I was just absolutely blown away by the traction it had in the wet! It was truly amazing. What happened next? I bought my first Subaru – that’s what happened. It was a MY97 WRX Club Spec. While I owned this car, I was reluctant to do too much to it as my work was over an hour’s drive away from where I lived.

After a while though, I decided to run a little bit more boost and added a rear muffler. This kept me happy as most of my driving was on the highway. In 1999, Subaru Australia released the Version 5 Impreza WRX STI and I just knew that it was the car that I had to have! I bought one in a heartbeat and joined the NSW WRX Club. THIS… was the beginning of my researching, developing and testing in order to unleash the beast within. I started off with a full exhaust system. I felt that this modification did not do much for improving torque. It did rev well with the exhaust but I love torque… the push in the seat.